Managing custom attributes for domain objects defined within microservices

ABSTRACT

In general, various aspects of the present invention provide methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for generating and managing custom attributes and corresponding values for domain objects defined within microservices. In accordance with various aspects, a method is provided that comprises: receiving a custom attribute request for a domain object defined in a microservice that comprises a domain object identifier, a custom attribute to add to the domain object, and a value type for the custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the value type, a custom value table for the domain object that comprises placeholder fields; identifying a placeholder field that is available in the custom value table; and storing a record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute comprising mapping data that maps the custom attribute to the placeholder field for the custom value table.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/145,633, filed Feb. 4, 2021, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to systems and methods for organizing and inter-relating data of domain objects defined within microservices.

BACKGROUND

Many enterprise software applications, services, and/or the like are provided in a software as a service (SaaS) framework. SaaS has become a common delivery model for such applications and services in which SaaS is typically supported by a cloud-based environment and accessed by users using a thin client such as a Web browser. Accordingly, microservice-based architectures are often preferable in cloud-based environments involving large, complex applications, services, and/or the like that require flexible development, deployment, and scaling.

A microservice-based architecture is implemented using multiple separate and self-contained applications, or microservices, that each provide a particular service and collectively form one or more fully functional applications within a SaaS framework, with the goal being the services can be brought to life independent of others. However, for an enterprise software application, service, and/or the like that is being utilized by a considerable number of clients (e.g., organizations), it is often the case that one or more of the microservices may need to be customized for use by various clients. For example, various domain objects defined within a microservice may need to be customized for a particular client who is making use of the microservice. Therefore, a need exists in the art for implementing and managing such customizations made to various domain objects of microservices used in various enterprise software applications, services, and/or the like.

SUMMARY

In general, various aspects of the present invention provide methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like for generating and managing custom attributes and corresponding values for domain objects defined within microservices. In accordance with various aspects, a method is provided. According, the method comprises: receiving a custom attribute request for a domain object defined in a microservice, wherein the custom attribute request comprises a domain object identifier for the domain object, a custom attribute to add to the domain object, and a value type for the custom attribute; identifying, by computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the value type, a custom value table for the domain object, wherein the custom value table: (1) is defined in a repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes having the value type in the plurality of placeholder fields for instances of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field not being mapped in a plurality of records found in an attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute comprising mapping data, wherein the mapping data maps the custom attribute to the placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.

According to some aspects, the plurality of records comprises records stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the method further comprises identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier, the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table for the domain object. In addition, according to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object, a second custom attribute to add to the domain object, and the value type for the second custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the value type, the custom value table for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the second placeholder field not being mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object, a second custom attribute to add to the domain object, and a second value type for the second custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the second value type, a second custom value table for the domain object, wherein the second custom value table: (1) is defined in the repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a second plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes having the second value type in the second plurality of placeholder fields for the instances of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields is not mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields for the second custom value table.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and a value for the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and storing, by the computing hardware based on the instance identifier, the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning, by the computing hardware, the value for the custom attribute to the microservice.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.

According to some aspects, the method further comprises: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for each instance of the domain object; and deleting, by the computing hardware, the record in the attribute schema table to unassign the placeholder field.

In accordance with various aspects, a system is provided comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions and a processing device communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium. In particular aspects, the processing device is configured to execute the instructions and thereby perform operations that comprise: receiving a custom attribute request for a domain object defined in a microservice, wherein the custom attribute request comprises a domain object identifier for the domain object and a custom attribute to add to the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, a custom value table for the domain object, wherein the custom value table: (1) is defined in a repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes in the plurality of placeholder fields for instances of the domain object; identifying a placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field not being mapped in a plurality of records found in an attribute schema table; and storing a record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute comprising mapping data, wherein the mapping data maps the custom attribute to the placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and a second custom attribute to add to the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the custom value table for the domain object; identifying a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the second placeholder field not being mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and a value for the custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and storing, based on the instance identifier, the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object. In some instances, identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object comprises referencing an instance table mapping the instance identifier to the domain object identifier.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning the value for the custom attribute to the microservice.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for each instance of the domain object; and deleting the record in the attribute schema table to unassign the placeholder field.

In addition in accordance with various aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code that is stored thereon. In particular aspects, the program code executable by one or more processing devices performs operations that include: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of a domain object, a first value for a first custom attribute, and a second value for a second custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, a domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, a first record stored in an attribute schema table, wherein the attribute schema table is defined in a repository for a microservice; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the second custom attribute, a second record in the attribute schema table; identifying, based on first mapping data stored in the first record, a first placeholder field of a plurality of placeholder fields found in a custom value table, wherein the first placeholder field is assigned to the first custom attribute and the custom value table is defined for the domain object in the repository; identifying, based on second mapping data stored in the second record, a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields, wherein the second placeholder field is assigned to the second custom attribute; and storing, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute in the first placeholder field and the second value for the second custom attribute in the second placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.

According to some aspects, identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object comprises referencing an instance table mapping the instance identifier to the domain object identifier. According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises the instance identifier for the instance of the domain object; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the second record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; identifying, based on the second mapping data stored in the second record, the second placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field and the second value for the second custom attribute stored in the second placeholder field from the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning the first value and the second value to the microservice.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises the instance identifier for the instance of the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field of the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.

According to some aspects, the operations further comprise: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field of the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and deleting the first record in the attribute schema table to unassign the first placeholder field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of this description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a computing environment that can be used for generating and managing custom attributes for various domain objects used within a microservice in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts an example of a microservice-based enterprise software application that may involve various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict an example of a repository architecture in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a process for creating a custom attribute for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 depicts an example of a process for removing a custom attribute for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 depicts an example of a process for inserting a value for a custom attribute of a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 depicts an example of a process for deleting a value for a custom attribute of a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 depicts an example of a process for fetching a value for a custom attribute of a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 depicts an example of a system architecture that may be used in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 depicts an example of a computing entity that may be used in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview and Technical Contributions of Various Aspects

As noted, many enterprise software applications, services, and/or the like are provided in a software as a service (SaaS) framework supported by a cloud-based environment. Accordingly, microservice-based architectures are often preferable in cloud-based environments involving large, complex applications, services, and/or the like that require flexible development, deployment, and scaling. A microservices application, for example, may be implemented using multiple separate and self-contained applications, or microservices, that each provide a particular service and collectively form one or more fully functional applications within a SaaS framework.

A microservice is often viewed as focused on producing a particular task. For example, an enterprise software application may be offered that provides a platform for various organizations to operationalize privacy, security, and data governance. The enterprise software application may provide tools within the enterprise software application that can be used by organizations (personnel thereof) in automating workflows for processing data subject access requests received from individuals (data subjects) with respect to personal data collected by these organizations. Here, for example, the enterprise software application may include a microservice for performing the intake of such data subject access requests in conjunction with these tools.

Domain driven design has become a popular approach for building a data architecture for a microservice implementation. Domain driven design involves defining a bounded context within a business domain. For example, a domain model may define a bounded context within the privacy, security, and data governance domain that involves the intake of data subject access requests. The bounded context can be viewed as a conceptual boundary where a domain model is applicable. Accordingly, the domain model can include a conceptual model that defines both behavior and data for the bounded context. For instance, the domain model describes the various entities involved in a particular task. For example, for performing the intake of data subject access requests (DSARs), entities may include data subject (e.g., representing an individual who is associated with a DSAR), and access point (e.g., representing a mechanism that can be used in submitting a DSAR).

An object model can be defined for the domain model that is then turned into actual code for implementing the microservice. Here, the object model defines domain objects that represent the various entities. A domain object is generally understood as an object that represents something meaningful within the business domain. For example, a domain object defined within the object model for the intake of DSARs may be a DSAR, itself. In another example, a domain object defined within the object model for the intake of DSARs may be an intake mechanism (e.g., such as a website) that is used for receiving DSARs. Such domain objects commonly include entity objects and value objects.

An entity object is used in describing a domain aspect that is primarily defined by its identity, continuity, and persistence over time. These objects are typically instantiated to represent individuality in that they represent design elements that are of concern for who or which they are. As a simple example, an entity object could include a data subject (e.g., individual) who is associated with a DSAR. Within the microservice, it typically matters who the specific individual is that is associated with a particular DSAR, although any number of other individuals may be associated with a DSAR.

A value object is a domain object that represents a descriptive aspect of the domain with no conceptual identity. These objects are typically instantiated to represent elements of the design in that it only matters for what they are, not who or which they are. As a simple example, a value object could include an algorithm used in generating an estimated time for processing a DSAR. Within the microservice, it typically does not matter the specific instance of use (which use) of the algorithm for calculating an estimated time for a DSAR, it only matters that the algorithm can be used in calculating the estimated time for the DSAR. This is because the algorithm is the same, regardless of when it is used. As another simple example, a value object can be viewed as a quarter. It typically does not matter the specific quarter in the possession of an individual, to the individual the quarter represents twenty-five cents.

As for entity objects, the microservice may define each of these objects within the microservice through classes. For example, an entity object can be implemented as a Plain Old Java Object (POCO). Accordingly, a class defined for a particular entity object can be used in implementing both behavior and data attributes for the entity object. When a class for an entity object is instantiated to generate a specific instance of the entity object, certain data (e.g., values) can be defined for various behavior and/or data attributes to implement such behavior and/or data attributes for the instance.

As noted, an entity object is primarily defined by its persistence over time. For example, an instance of a data subject entity object (class thereof) representing a particular individual associated with a DSAR may need to persist for use within the microservice. This is generally accomplished through a repository defined for the microservice. For example, the repository may be a relational database in which specific data (e.g., values) defined for various data attributes in generating the instance of the data subject entity object (class thereof) can persist (through storage of the instance) within one or more tables of the relational database.

Accordingly, an entity object (class thereof) can be mapped to one or more tables defined in the database. For example, each data attribute defined for the entity object can be mapped to a field (column) of a table. The mapping can be accomplished through metadata (schemas) defined for the entity object and represented in one or more tables. For example, an attribute defined for the data subject entity object may be “data_subject.person_id.” A mapping defined for the data subject entity object through one or more tables found in the database may map this attribute to a “data_subject.person_id” field (column) defined for a data subject table storing values for various attributes of instances of the data subject entity object. Accordingly, each record (row) stored in the data subject table can represent an instance of the data subject entity object with the values for the different data attributes stored in the corresponding fields of the data subject table. In other words, each record (row) stored in the data subject table can represent a specific data subject (individual) who is associated with a DSAR.

However, a technical challenge that is often encountered in using a microservice-based architecture for an enterprise software application is that clients (e.g., organizations) who are using the application may regularly need custom attributes and corresponding values for instances generated of various domain objects used within a particular microservice. For example, a client may be using the tools provided within the privacy, security, and data governance enterprise software application for automating workflows for processing DSARs. Here, the client may be a healthcare provider and the DSARs the client receives may be the result of the client collecting personal data of data subjects that is used in submitting insurance claims for various diagnoses. Therefore, the client may need to add one or more custom attributes to an instance of the data subject entity object generated for a data subject associated with a particular DSAR to allow the client to define data (e.g., values) for various diagnoses that have been made for the data subject and submitted for insurance claims.

Under a conventional approach, custom attribute management is typically implemented as records (rows) in a table used for defining and managing custom attributes and their corresponding values. For example, if two custom attributes and their corresponding values need to be added to an instance of Entity Object A, represented by a record stored in Table A, a row-based implementation would look like the following:

Table A representing Entity Object A. Instance Base Attribute 1 Base Attribute 2 Base Attribute 3 . . . Instance 1 Base Value 1 Base Value 2 Base Value 3 . . .

Customer Attribute Management Table for defining custom attributes. Table Name Instance Custom Attribute Custom Value Table A Instance 1 Custom Attribute 1 Custom Value 1 Table A Instance 1 Custom Column 2 Custom Value 2

While this approach may be acceptable under certain circumstances, there are significant problems that can accompany this approach. The custom attributes and corresponding values are represented as rows in a table (Custom Attribute Management Table) different from the table (Table A) used to represent the entity object. Therefore, as the number of instances of Entity Object A (rows) grows in Table A that require custom attributes, the number of rows in the Custom Attribute Management Table can grow exponentially. For example, a single record representing an instance of Entity Object A requiring three custom attributes would require three records in the Custom Attribute Management Table. Multiply that by the number of records (rows) in Table A that require the same custom attributes and do the same for all the tables representing the various entity objects defined for the microservice that have instances requiring custom attributes, and one can see that the corresponding Customer Attribute Management Tables can grow very quickly to an unmanageable size. Searching and sorting records representing instances of various domain objects for the microservice can become non-performant and as a result, the microservice may underperform for its intended task.

Various aspects of the present disclosure overcome many of the technical challenges associated with generating and managing custom attributes and corresponding values for domain objects defined for a microservice, as detailed above. In particular, various aspects of the disclosure involve the use of a novel approach for generating and managing custom attributes and corresponding values for various domain objects of the microservice by making use of a configuration of value tables defined within a repository that are used in storing the corresponding values for the custom attributes. Here, the configuration involves placeholder fields defined within the value tables that can be assigned to the custom attributes and once assigned, can be used in storing values for the custom attributes with respect to instances generated for the various domain objects. According to particular aspects, a custom attribute management engine is provided via the microservice which generates metadata to map custom attributes generated for a particular domain object of the microservice to the placeholder fields defined for a value table for the particular domain object. Once mapped and the microservice generates an instance of the particular domain object, the custom attribute management engine can then use the mapping of the custom attributes to the placeholder fields in storing values for the custom attributes in the value table for the instance of the domain object.

Respectively, the configuration of the value table to include the placeholder fields according to various aspects allows for a single record to be stored in the value table for the instance of the domain object that includes all the values for the custom attributes of the domain object. Such a configuration provides a considerable technical advantage over the conventional approach for custom attribute management that involves using individual records (rows) in a table for storing the value for each custom attribute of an instance generated for a domain object.

That is to say, the effectiveness of various aspects of the disclosure lies in the fact that a single record in a value table for a domain object can be used to store the values of all the custom attributes for the domain object. This can result in an improvement to computer functionality through significant storage space savings, as well as highly performant searching and sorting functionality of attributes of various domain objects used within a microservice.

The disclosure is provided herein in the context of using a microservice-based architecture for an enterprise software application. However, various aspects described in this disclosure can be used for a microservice-based architecture that involves a variety of other applications besides an enterprise software application. For example, various aspects of the disclosure are applicable to a microservice-based architecture used for mobile applications such as a mobile banking application, a media content application, an Internet of things (IoT) application, and/or the like. In another example, various aspects of the disclosure are applicable to a microservice-based architecture used for web applications such as an e-commerce website, corporate website, media website, and/or the like. Therefore, the disclosure provided herein involving the use of a microservice-based architecture for an enterprise software application should not be viewed as limiting the scope of various aspects of the disclosure.

Example Computing Environment

FIG. 1 depicts an example of a computing environment 100 that can be used for implementing and managing custom attributes and corresponding values for domain objects defined within a microservice 110 implemented as part of an enterprise software application according to various aspects. In this particular example, the master microservice 110 is used in defining and managing the domain objects utilized for various services provided through the enterprise software application.

Here, the computing environment 100 can include one or more client computing systems 104 associated with clients of the enterprise software application that are in communication over one or more networks 105 with a user interface 120 (e.g., website) used by personnel 103 of the clients in generating and managing custom attributes for the domain objects utilized for the various services provided through the enterprise software application. According to various aspects, personnel 103 for a particular client (e.g., an organization using the enterprise software application), via a client computing system 104, can interact with the master microservice 110 over the one or more networks 105 to allow the personnel 103 to generate and/or manage custom attributes for various domain objects utilized for the various services provided through the enterprise software application. In turn, the master microservice 110 includes a custom attribute management engine 115 that is utilized in generating and managing custom attributes for the various domain objects based on the personnel's 103 interaction with the user interface 120. In addition, as discussed further herein, the master microservice 110 may also utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 without direct involvement of the personnel 103 through the user interface 120 in managing custom attributes for the various domain objects. For example, another microservice may need values stored for custom attributes with respect to an instance generated for a particular domain object. Here, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 in retrieving the values and providing the values to the other microservice.

According to various aspects, the master microservice 110 includes a data repository 180 used in storing data for the domain objects utilized by the services provided through the enterprise software application. For example, the repository 180 may be a relational database. The data stored in the data repository 180 may include metadata (e.g., schemas) for the various domain objects. As further discussed herein, the metadata provides a mapping of attributes for the various domain objects to data elements of data structures found in the data repository 180 that are used for storing values for the attributes. For example, the data elements may involve data fields defined for tables found in the relational database. In addition, the data stored in the data repository 180 may include values for the attributes, including the custom attributes, for instances generated for the various domain objects.

According to various aspects, the custom attribute management engine 115 includes different modules that can be executed in generating and managing custom attributes for the various domain objects. Here, for example, the master microservice 110 may execute the different modules, at the direction of personnel 103 through the user interface 120 or independently via the custom attribute management engine 115, to generate and/or manage custom attributes for the various domain objects.

Accordingly, the custom attribute management engine 115 may include a create module 130 that can be executed to create a custom attribute for a particular domain object by mapping the custom attribute to an available placeholder field in a value table defined for the domain object. As further detailed herein, the create module 130 according to particular aspects performs the mapping of the custom attribute to the available placeholder field by generating mapping data (e.g., metadata) that is stored within a custom attribute schema table found in the repository 180. Once generated, the custom attribute management engine 115 can use the mapping data in storing values for the custom attribute for various instances generated for the domain object.

In addition, the custom attribute management engine 115 may include a remove module 140 that can be executed to remove a custom attribute for a particular domain object. According to particular aspects, the remove module 140 removes the custom attribute by removing (e.g., deleting) the mapping data stored in the custom attribute schema table that maps the custom attribute to the corresponding placeholder field being used to store values for the custom attribute. In addition, the remove module 140 removes (e.g., deletes) the values stored for the custom attribute from the corresponding value table for the domain object. Once the mapping data has been removed from the custom attribute schema table, the placeholder field can be used (re-used) for (e.g., mapped to) a different custom attribute for the domain object.

In addition, the custom attribute management engine 115 may include an insert module 150 that can be executed to insert a value for a custom attribute defined for a domain object with respect to an instance generated for the domain object. According to particular aspects, the insert module 150 inserts the value by referencing the mapping data found in the custom attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute to identify a placeholder field used for storing the value. The insert module 150 then identifies a record representing the instance of the domain object that is stored in a value table for the domain object that has the placeholder field and stores the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of the record. As a result, the value for the custom attribute for the instance of the domain object persists for use within the services provided through the enterprise software application.

Further, the custom attribute management engine 115 may include a delete module 160 that can be executed to delete a value for a custom attribute defined for a domain object with respect to an instance generated for the domain object. According to particular aspects, the delete module 160 deletes the value by referencing the mapping data found in the custom attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute to identify a placeholder field used for storing the value. The delete module 160 then identifies a record representing the instance of the domain object that is stored in a value table for the domain object that has the placeholder field and deletes the value in the corresponding placeholder field for the record.

Finally, the custom attribute management engine 115 may include a fetch module 170 that can be executed to fetch a value for a custom attribute defined for a domain object with respect to an instance generated for the domain object. Similar to the insert module 150 and delete module 160, the fetch module 170 according to particular aspects fetches the value by referencing the mapping data found in the custom attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute to identify a placeholder field used for storing the value. The fetch module 170 then identifies a record representing the instance of the domain object that is stored in a value table for the domain object that has the placeholder field and fetches the value in the corresponding placeholder field for the record. The fetch module 170 can then return the fetched value to the master microservice 110 so that the value may then be available to the services provided through the software enterprise application.

Turning now to FIG. 2, this figure depicts an example conceptual diagram 200 of a microservice-based enterprise software application. In the depicted example, a cloud environment 210 hosts the application that is composed of a plurality of microservices that includes the master microservice 110 and other microservices 220 utilized by various services provided through the enterprise software application. Here, each of the microservices 220 may make use of various domain objects in performing different tasks associated with the services provided through the enterprise software application. For example, one or more of the microservices 220 may utilize a data subject domain object for representing different data subjects (individuals) within the microservice(s) 220.

Accordingly, a particular client (e.g., organization) may need to include one or more custom attributes to the data subject domain object. For example, the client may be an e-commerce business and may need to add a custom attribute to the data subject domain object that represents a customer account number assigned to customers of the e-commerce business. Therefore, personnel 103 for the client may interact with the master microservice 110 (e.g., custom attribute management engine 115) through the user interface 120 to generate the custom attribute for the data subject domain object. In addition, the personnel 103 may also manage the custom attribute, and corresponding values for the custom attribute that are stored for various instances of the data subject domain object, through the user interface 120.

The master microservice 110 can also utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 in managing custom attributes and corresponding values for various domain objects without interaction of personnel 103 through the user interface 120. For example, another microservice 220 may need a value stored for the customer account number custom attribute for a particular instance of the data subject domain object. Here, the microservice 220 may send a request to the master microservice 110 for the value. In turn, the master microservice 110 may fetch the value, via the fetch module 170 provided through the custom attribute management engine 115, from the repository 180 of the master microservice 110, and return the value to the microservice 220 that had submitted the request. Accordingly, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 in performing other operations with respect to custom attributes of domain objects and/or values for custom attributes of domain objects as previously discussed, such as inserting values for custom attributes, deleting values for custom attributes, removing custom attributes, etc.

Repository Architecture

Turning now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, these figures depict an example of a repository architecture 300 that can be used in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Specifically, the data repository 180 (e.g., the data repository 180 shown in FIG. 1), when based on the architecture 300 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, can be used according to various aspects in persisting instances of domain objects (e.g., attributes thereof) that may be used within various microservices that compose an enterprise software application. As further noted, the repository 180 based on the architecture 300 may reside within a master microservice 110 and the master microservice 110 may service requests from the other microservices 220 with respect to data stored within the repository 180 for the various domain objects and instances thereof.

The enterprise software application may provide several different services and these services may utilize several different domain objects for representing various entity and/or value objects used within the services. For example, a particular entity object that may be used within one or more of the services is a data subject. As previously noted, a data subject may represent an individual who has had personal data handled (e.g., collected, processed, transferred, stored, and/or the like) by an organization. As a specific example, a data subject may represent an individual who has had credit card data collected by an e-commerce business during the purchase of a product on the e-commerce business's website to process the purchase of the product.

The data subject may have certain rights with respect to the e-commerce's collection of the data subject's credit card data. For instance, the data subject may have the right to request the e-commerce business to remove (e.g., delete) the data subject's credit data from the e-commerce business's computing systems used in handling the credit card data. Such requests may be referred to as data subject access requests (DSARs). The e-commerce business may utilize a DSAR service provided through the enterprise software application in managing the processing of DSARs. In turn, the DSAR service may utilize a data subject domain object within various microservices to represent data subjects. Accordingly, instances of the data subject domain object generated to represent particular individuals may persist through the repository 180.

Therefore, the repository architecture 300 may include one or more data structures (e.g., tables) that are used in storing metadata representing mapping of attributes of domain objects to data elements (e.g., fields for tables) that are used in storing values for the attributes with respect to instances generated for the domain objects. The remainder of the disclosure refers to tables and fields as the data structures and data elements used within the repository 180 for persisting instances of domain objects. But a data structure and/or data element may encompass data structures and/or data elements, in addition to, or other than tables and fields. For example, other data structures may include files, spreadsheets, matrices, and/or the like. Other fields may include delimited text, cells, and/or the like.

Here, various services provided through the enterprise software application may provide a set of default (“canned”) attributes for one or more of the entity and/or value objects (domain objects thereof) used within the services. For example, the data subject domain object may include the default attributes “first name” and “last name” that are used in representing a particular data subject's first and last names, respectively. Generally, these default attributes are available for use to every client of the service(s) when generating instances of the domain objects. In addition, as previously noted, various aspects of the disclosure allow for a client to define custom attributes for a particular domain object for one or more services. Once defined, these custom attributes can be made available for each instance of the domain object generated by the client in using the corresponding service(s). Therefore, the repository architecture 300 can include one or more schema attribute tables for storing the mapping of these attributes (both default attributes and custom attributes) to various fields of tables found in the repository 180 that can then be used to store values for the attributes to persist instances generated for the domain objects.

For instance, according to particular aspects, the repository architecture 300 can include an Attribute_Schema table 310 for storing metadata representing the mapping of default attributes for various domain objects to fields of tables found in the repository 180 that can be used in storing values for the default attributes. In addition, the repository architecture 300 can include a Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 for storing metadata representing the mapping of custom attributes for various domain objects to placeholder fields of tables found in the repository 180 that can be used in storing values for the custom attributes.

As further detailed herein, a placeholder field is not initially assigned to any particular custom attribute, but is assigned to a particular custom attribute upon the custom attribute being added to a corresponding domain object. In addition, the placeholder field can be unassigned from a particular custom attribute upon the custom attribute being removed from the corresponding domain object. Therefore, according to various aspects, the placeholder fields serve as “placeholders” in that they can be assigned to custom attributes and then used in storing values for the custom attributes.

Accordingly, the particular repository architecture 300 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B comprises the two separate schema tables 310, 320 so that the metadata for the default attributes and custom attributes can be stored separately. Such a configuration can improve the performance according to various aspects in identifying what placeholder fields may be available for assigning to custom attributes. This is because the two separate schema tables 310, 320 can allow for querying of the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 only in identifying available placeholder fields. That is to say, using the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 to store metadata for custom attributes only can allow for querying fewer records than if the metadata for both the default attributes and custom attributes are stored in a single table. However, a single table can be used in various configurations of the repository architecture 300 to store the metadata for both default attributes and custom attributes.

In addition to the schema tables 310, 320, the repository architecture 300 includes a plurality of value tables that are used in storing values for the various attributes (both default attributes and custom attributes) of domain objects with respect to instances generated for the domain objects. Accordingly, the configuration of the plurality of value tables can vary. For example, the repository architecture 300 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B includes value tables for different types of values (value types) that can be stored for an attribute. Such value types may include, for example, text, numerical, numericaltext, date, datetime, singleselect, numericalsingleselect, multiselect, and/or the like.

A set of value tables can be provided for each domain object. The set of value tables can include value tables for each value type. In addition, the set of value tables can include value tables for storing values for default attributes and value tables for storing values for custom attributes. Therefore, a set of value tables provided for a particular domain object can include a subset of value tables for each value type that includes a first value table for default attributes and a second value table for custom attributes.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the repository architecture 300 can include a first set of value tables for a first domain object (e.g., “Object_1” 311) that includes a text value table for storing values having a value type of text for default attributes for the first domain object (e.g., Object_1 Text Value table 340) and a text value table for storing values having a value type of text for custom attributes for the first domain object (e.g., Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345). In addition, the first set of value tables for first domain object “Object_1” 311 can include a date value table for storing values having a value type of date for default attributes for the first domain object (e.g., Object_1 Date Value table 350) and a date value table for storing values having a value type of date for custom attributes for the first domain object (e.g., Object_1 Custom Date Value table 355). Similar to the schema tables 310, 320, having a configuration in which the values for default attributes and values for custom attributes are stored in separate tables can improve performance according to particular aspects in managing the values for the various attributes. For example, the fetch module 170 can have better performance since it only has to query records that are used in storing values for custom attributes (e.g., a smaller number of records) than if it had to query records that are used in storing values for both default attributes and custom attributes (e.g., a larger number of records).

The repository architecture 300 can also include a second set of value tables for a second domain object (e.g., “Object_2” 312) that includes a text value table for storing values having a value type of text for default attributes for the second domain object (e.g., Object_2 Text Value table 360) and a text value table for storing values having a value type of text for custom attributes for the second domain object (e.g., Object_2 Custom Text Value table 365). In addition, the second set of value tables for second domain object “Object_2” can include a date value table for storing values having a value type of date for default attributes for the second domain object (e.g., Object_2 Date Value table 370) and a date value table for storing values having a value type of date for custom attributes for the second domain object (e.g., Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375). Similar tables could be added to the first and second data sets for other value types such as numerical, numericaltext, singleselect, etc. In addition, the repository architecture can include similar sets of table for additional domain objects.

As previously noted, the default attributes for a domain object are those attributes that are available for use for an instance of the domain object without having to be added by a client. For example, domain object “Object_1” 311 may have default attributes “Attribute A,” “Attribute B”, and “Attribute C.” Domain object “Object_2” 312 may have default attribute “Attribute D.” These attributes are shown in the column 318 for the “AttributeName” field of the Attribute_Schema table 310. Here, the Attribute_Schema table 310 includes a record for each default attribute that stores mapping data. For example, the mapping data may include the data shown in the column 317 for “Object_ID,” that provides an identifier for the domain object, the data should in the column 318 for the “AttributeName,” that provide an identifier for the default attribute, and data shown in the column 319 for the “Mapping” field, that provides the value table and field found in the repository 180 for storing values for the corresponding default attribute. Therefore, the mapping data may provide a mapping of the corresponding default attribute to a field found in one of the value tables for the domain object.

For example, the Attribute_Schema table 310 includes a first record that provides mapping data for default attribute “Attribute_A” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_A” is mapped to field “Field1” 313 of the Object_1 Text Value table 340. In addition, the Attribute_Schema table 310 includes a second record that provides mapping data for default attribute “Attribute_B” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_B” is mapped to field “Field1” 314 of the Object_1 Date Value table 350. Further, the Attribute_Schema table 310 includes a third record that provides mapping data for default attribute “Attribute_C” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_C” is mapped to field “Field2” 315 of the Object_1 Date Value table 350. Similarly, the Attribute_Schema table 310 includes a fourth record that provides mapping data for default attribute “Attribute_D” of domain object “Object_2” 312 that indicates attribute “Attribute_D” is mapped to field “Field1” 316 of the Object_2 Text Value table 360.

According to particular aspects, the master microservice 110 may map the default attributes of various domain objects found in the Attribute_Schema table 310 at a time when a client is onboarded to begin using the services provided through the enterprise software application. For example, when a new client is onboarded for the enterprise software application (e.g., becomes a new user of the enterprise software application), the master microservice 110 may generate a set of tables (e.g., schema tables and value tables) and add the set of tables to the repository 180 for the client at that time. In addition, the master microservice 110 may automatically populate the Attribute_Schema table 310 with mapping data providing the mappings of the default attributes for the different domain objects.

According to other aspects, the master microservice 110 may populate the Attribute_Schema table 310 after the client has been onboarded. For example, the master microservice 110 may populate the Attribute_Schema table 310 for a particular domain object at a time when the client indicates the use of the particular domain object. According to other aspects, a single master microservice 110 may use the Attribute_Schema table 310 for every client. In these instances, the mappings for the default attributes for the different domain objects is the same for each client and the master microservice 110 provides the client with its own versions of the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 and set of value tables 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375 in the repository 180.

In addition, as previously noted, the custom attributes for a domain object are those attributes that the master microservice 110 makes available to use for an instance of the domain object by being added to the domain object by a client. For example, domain object “Object_1” 311 may have had custom attributes “Attribute_E,” “Attribute_F”, and “Attribute_G” added. Domain object “Object_2” 312 may have had custom attribute “Attribute_H” added. These attributes are shown in the column 325 for the “AttributeName” field of the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320. Here, the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 includes a record for each custom attribute that stores mapping data. For example, the mapping data may include the data shown in the column 325 for “Object_ID,” that provides an identifier for the domain object, the data should in the column 326 for the “AttributeName,” that provide an identifier for the default attribute, and data shown in the column 327 for the “Mapping” field, that provides the value table and placeholder field found in the repository 180 for storing values for the corresponding custom attribute. Therefore, the mapping data may provide a mapping of the corresponding custom attribute to a placeholder field found in one of the value tables for the domain object.

For example, the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 includes a first record that provides mapping data for custom attribute “Attribute_E” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_E” has been added as a custom attribute and is mapped to placeholder field “Placeholder1” 321 of the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345. In addition, the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 includes a second record that provides mapping data for custom attribute “Attribute_F” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_F” has been added as a custom attribute and is mapped to placeholder field “Placeholder1” 322 of the Object_1 Custom Date Value table 355. Further, the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 includes a third record that provides mapping data for custom attribute “Attribute_G” of domain object “Object_1” 311 that indicates attribute “Attribute_G” has been added as a custom attribute and is mapped to placeholder field “Placeholder2” 323 of the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345. Similar, the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 includes a fourth record that provides mapping data for custom attribute “Attribute_H” of Object_2 312 that indicates attribute “Attribute_H” has been added as a custom attribute and is mapped to placeholder field “Placeholder1” 324 of the Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375.

Unlike the Attribute_Schema table 310, according to various aspects, the master microservice 110 may not automatically generate mappings for the custom attributes of various domain objects found in the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 at a time when a client is onboarded to begin using the services provided through the enterprise software application. Instead, the master microservice 110 can generate the mappings for the custom attributes at a time when the client adds the custom attributes to the corresponding domain objects. In addition, the master microservice 110 does not initially assign (e.g., map) the placeholder fields found in the various value tables for the domain objects that are used for storing values for custom attributes to particular custom attributes, but instead the master microservice 110 assigns the custom attributes as they are added to the corresponding domain objects.

The master microservice 110 uses the mappings provided in the Attribute_Schema table 310 and the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 in managing the default attributes for various domain objects, as well as implementing and managing custom attributes for the various domain objects. For example, a service provided through the enterprise software application may generate an instance (e.g., “Instance_A” 331) for domain object “Object_1” 311 that includes values for default attributes “Attribute_A,” “Attribute_B,” and “Attribute_C” and custom attributes “Attribute_E,” “Attribute_F,” and “Attribute_G.” Here, the master microservice 110 may use mappings found in the Attribute_Schema table 310 in storing the values for default attributes “Attribute_A,” “Attribute_B,” and “Attribute_C” in the repository 180. In addition, the master microservice 110 (e.g., via the insert module 150) may use mappings found in the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 in storing the values for the custom attributes “Attribute_E,” “Attribute_F,” and “Attribute_G” in the repository 180.

According to some aspects, the repository architecture 300 may include an Instance table 330 that is used to map instances generated for the various domain objects to their corresponding domain objects. Therefore, as a result of the service generating instance “Instance_A” 331 of domain object “Object_1” 311, the master microservice 110 may initially generate a record in the Instance table 330 mapping instance “Instance_A” 331 to domain object “Object_1” 311. The master microservice 110 may then reference (e.g., query) the mappings provided in the Attribute_Schema table 310 in identifying the fields 313, 314, 315 found in value tables for the domain object where to store the values for default attributes “Attribute_A,” “Attribute_B,” and “Attribute_C.” In addition, the master microservice 110 may then reference (e.g., query) the mappings provided in the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 in identifying the placeholder fields 321, 322, 323 in value tables for the domain object where to store the values for custom attributes “Attribute_E,” “Attribute_F,” and “Attribute_G.” Once identified, the master microservice 110 may then generate and insert records into the appropriate value tables 340, 345, 350, 355 for instance “Instance_A” 331 and store the values in the appropriate fields 313, 314, 315, 321, 322, 323 of the inserted records.

As a result, the master microservice 110 stores the value 341 for default attribute “Attribute_A” in field “Field1” 313 of the record inserted for instance “Instance_A” 331 in the Object_1 Text Value table 340. Likewise, the master microservice 110 stores the value 351 for default attribute “Attribute_B” and the value 352 for default attribute “Attribute_C” in fields “Field1” 314 and “Field2” 315 of the record inserted for instance “Instance_A” 331 in the Object_1 Date Value table 350.

In a similar fashion, the master microservice 110 stores the value 346 for custom attribute “Attribute_E” and the value 347 for custom attribute “Attribute_G” in placeholder fields “Placeholder1” 321 and “Placeholder2” 323 of the record inserted for instance “Instance_A” 331 in the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345. Likewise, the master microservice 110 stores the value 356 for custom attribute “Attribute_F” in placeholder field “Placeholer1” 322 of the record inserted for instance “Instance_A” 331 in the Object_1 Custom Date Value table 355.

Since custom attributes “Attribute_E” and “Attribute_G” have been assigned to placeholder fields “Placeholder1” 321 and “Placeholder2” 322 defined for the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345 in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, the master microservice 110 may use a single record for instance “Instance_A” 331 to store the corresponding values 346, 347 as opposed to having to use multiple records in the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345 to store the values 346, 347 for the two custom attributes. Accordingly, additional placeholder fields may be available in the Object_1 Custom Text Value table 345 and/or Object_1 Custom Date Value table 355 to assign to additional custom attributes as they are generated for domain object “Object_1” 311 that have a value type of text or date.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict another example with respect to an instance (“Instance_C” 332) generated for domain object “Object_2” 312 to demonstrate the use of placeholder fields in storing values for custom attributes. In this example, a service provided through the enterprise software application may generate instance “Instance_C” 332 that includes values for default attribute Attribute_D” and custom attribute Attribute_H.” Here, the master microservice 110 may use mappings found in the Attribute_Schema table 310 in storing the value for default attribute “Attribute_D” in the repository 180, as well as use mappings found in the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 in storing the value for the custom attribute “Attribute_H.”

Therefore, the master microservice 110 stores the value 361 for default attribute “Attribute D” in field “Field1” 316 of the record inserted for instance “Instance C” 331 in the Object_2 Text Value table 360. Likewise, the master microservice 110 stores the value 376 for custom attribute “Attribute_H” in placeholder field “Placeholder1” 324 of the record inserted for instance “Instance_C” 332 in the Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375.

Here, again, the master microservice 110 has assigned the custom attribute “Attribute_H” to placeholder field “Placeholder1” 324 defined for Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375. According to various aspects, when another custom attribute is added to domain object “Object_2” 312 having a value type of date, the master microservice 110 (via the custom attribute management engine 115) would assign the new custom attribute to another available placeholder field found in the Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375. As a result, the master microservice 110 can use a single record in storing values for the two custom attributes having a value type of date in the Object_2 Custom Date Value table 375 for each instance generated for domain object “Object_2” 312.

As previously noted, the master microservice 110 may utilize a custom attribute management engine 115 comprising a create module 130, remove module 140, insert module 150, delete module 160, and fetch module 170 in performing different operations with respect to custom attributes of domain objects and/or values for custom attributes of domain objects persisted via (e.g., stored in) the repository 180. Further detail is provided below regarding the configuration and functionality of the create module 130, remove module 140, insert module 150, delete module 160, and fetch module 170 according to various aspects of the disclosure.

Create Module

Turning now to FIG. 4, additional details are provided regarding a create module 130 used for creating a custom attribute for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As previously noted, the create module 130 according to various aspects is provided as part of a custom attribute management engine 115 that is accessible through a master microservice 110. For example, personnel for an entity may access the master microservice 110 through a user interface 120. Here, the personnel 103 may provide information through the user interface 120 for generating the custom attribute for the domain object. In turn, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 and execute the create module to implement the custom attribute for the domain object based on the provided information. Therefore, the flow diagram shown in FIG. 4 may correspond to operations carried out, for example, by computing hardware as described herein, as the computing hardware executes the create module 130.

The process 400 involves the create module 130 receiving a custom attribute request for the domain object in Operation 410. For example, according to particular aspects, the custom attribute request may include a domain object identifier for the domain object. In addition, the custom attribute request may include the custom attribute (e.g., an identifier for the custom attribute) along with a value type for the custom attribute. For example, the value type may indicate that the values stored for the custom attribute are of type text, numerical, date, singleselect, multiselect, etc. According to some aspects, the user interface 120 may provide him or her with the various selections of value type for the custom attribute.

The create module 130 identifies a custom value table for the domain object found in the repository 180 that is to be used to store values for the custom attribute in Operation 415. According to various aspects, the create module 130 may perform this particular operation by referencing metadata provided in the repository 180. For example, the metadata may be in the form of a table provided in the repository 180 that includes records identifying the various tables found in the repository for the client associated with the domain object that is to have the custom attribute added. Therefore, the create module 130 can query the table in identifying the custom value table for the domain object. Accordingly, the custom attribute request may also include a client identifier that can be used in identifying the value table from the metadata. In addition, the value tables identified in the metadata for the client may also indicate what value types they are used for in storing values for custom attributes.

Once the create module 130 has identified a custom value table, in Operation 420, the create module 130 identifies a placeholder field defined for the identified custom value table that is available for use in storing values for the custom attribute. Here, the create module 130 may perform this operation by referencing an attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320 previously discussed) in identifying those placeholder fields defined for the identified custom value table that are currently assigned to custom attributes, and then determining what placeholder fields are still available for the custom value table.

For example, the custom value table may include ten placeholder fields that can be used in storing values for the custom attribute. Seven of the placeholder fields may be currently assigned to other custom attributes for the domain object. As a result, the attribute schema table may include seven records with mapping data providing the mapping of the seven placeholder fields to their corresponding custom attributes. Therefore, the create module 130 may query the attribute schema table, based on the identifier for the domain object, to retrieve the seven records. The create module 130 may then determine from the seven records that seven of the ten placeholder fields are currently assigned to other custom attributes for the domain object. The create module 130 may then identify one of the remaining placeholder fields as available to assign to the new custom attributes. For example, the create module 130 may identify (select) the next sequential placeholder field that is available for the custom value table.

As a specific example, the create module 130 may have currently assigned the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth placeholder fields to other custom attributes. The create module 130 may have previously assigned the fifth placeholder field to a custom attribute, but the custom attribute may have been removed for the domain object, freeing up the fifth placeholder field. Therefore, the create module 130 may identify the fifth placeholder field as the available placeholder field to assign to the new custom attribute.

The process 400 continues with the create module 130 storing a record in the attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320) for the domain object and custom attribute that includes mapping data in Operation 425. According to various aspects, the mapping data maps the custom attribute to the identified placeholder field for the custom value table. The mapping data may have various configurations with respect to different aspects of the disclosure.

For example, the attribute schema table may include a domain object identifier field, a custom attribute identifier field, a table field, and a placeholder field that compose the mapping data. Here, the domain object identifier field may store an identifier for the domain object such as a name of the domain object, a unique alphanumeric that represents the domain object, and/or the like. Likewise, the custom attribute identifier field may store an identifier for the custom attribute such as a name of the custom attribute, a unique alphanumeric that represents the custom attribute, and/or the like. The table field and placeholder field may store the name of the custom value table and the name of the placeholder field for the custom value table, respectively. Accordingly, the combination of the domain object identifier field, custom attribute identifier field, table field, and placeholder field provides a mapping of the custom attribute to the placeholder field found in the custom value table. But other configurations of the mapping data can be used to map the custom attribute to the placeholder field in the corresponding value table.

As a result, the custom attribute is now made available for use with respect to instances generated for the domain object. Therefore, when the master microservice 110 (or some other microservice) generates a new instance of the domain object, the new custom attribute is available to have a value defined for the custom attribute. The instance of the domain object may then persist by saving the value for the custom attribute, along with values for other attributes, in the repository 180 according to the mapping stored in the attribute schema table. In addition, as detailed further herein, the master microservice 110 may fetch, update, remove, and/or the like the value for the custom attribute according to the mapping stored in the attribute schema table.

Remove Module

Turning now to FIG. 5, additional details are provided regarding a remove module 140 used for removing a custom attribute for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. Similar to the create module 130, the remove module 140 according to various aspects is provided as part of a custom attribute management engine 115 that is accessible through a master microservice 110 in the same manner. Therefore, the flow diagram shown in FIG. 5 may correspond to operations carried out, for example, by computing hardware as described herein, as the computing hardware executes the remove module 140.

The process 500 involves the remove module 140 receiving a remove request in Operation 510. According to various aspects, the remove request includes a domain object identifier for the domain object and the custom attribute (e.g., an identifier thereof). In addition, the remove request may include an identifier of the client associated with the domain object that is to have the custom attribute removed.

In Operation 515, the remove module 140 identifies a record in an attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320) that maps the custom attribute to be removed from the domain object. According to various aspects, the remove module 140 queries the attribute schema table using the domain object identifier and custom attribute (identifier thereof) in identifying the record in the attribute schema table associated with the domain object identifier and custom attribute. For example, the mapping data stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and custom attribute may include a domain object identifier field and a custom attribute identifier field that may be queried in identifying the record.

Once the remove module 140 has identified the record, the remove module 140 identifies the placeholder field that has been assigned to the custom attribute in Operation 520. Here, the remove module 140 can reference the mapping data stored in the record in identifying the custom value table and corresponding placeholder field of the table being used to store values for the custom attributes. The remove module 140 then deletes the values that have been stored for the custom attribute for various instances of the domain object in the corresponding custom value table in Operation 525. At Operation 530, the remove module 140 deletes the record for the domain object and custom attribute from the attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320).

As a result, the custom attribute, and corresponding value thereof, is remove from any instance of the domain object that have been generated and persisted in the repository 180. In addition, the placeholder field of the custom value table that was assigned to the custom attribute that has been removed is now available to be assigned to a new, different custom attribute. That is to say, according to various aspects, the master microservice 110 can assign, unassign, and/or reassign the placeholder fields defined for a particular custom value table to different custom attributes for the domain object as needed.

Insert Module

Turning now to FIG. 6, additional details are provided regarding an insert module 150 used for inserting a value for a custom attribute of an instance generated for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As previously noted, the insert module 150 according to various aspects is provided as part of a custom attribute management engine 115 that is accessible through a master microservice 110. As further noted, the master microservice 110 may be tasked with servicing requests from other microservices with respect to various domain objects and instances thereof. Accordingly, in fulling such requests, the master microservice may store, fetch, delete, and/or like values for custom attributes defined for various domain objects.

For example, the master microservice 110 may generate an instance of a domain object through a particular microservice in which values for various attributes defined for the domain object, including a custom attribute, are obtained. Therefore, the particular microservice may send a request to the master microservice 110 to have the values stored for the instance in the repository 180 to persist the instance. In turn, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 and execute the insert module 150 to store a value for a custom attribute. Therefore, the flow diagram shown in FIG. 6 may correspond to operations carried out, for example, by computing hardware as described herein, as the computing hardware executes the insert module 150.

As a specific example, a particular client may be using a privacy risk service provided through the enterprise software application that provides the client with a risk analysis on storing personal data of various data subjects in the client's computing systems. Accordingly, a data subject may be a defined domain object within a microservice that performs a task associated with generating the risk analysis. The client may have implemented a custom attribute for the data subject domain object that represents an aggravating risk factor assigned to a data subject (customer) of the client that is used as a measure for particular circumstances that may increase the risk of storing the data subject's personal data. According, the client may need to store this aggravating risk factor for a particular data subject so that it can be used in the future in generating a risk analysis for the particular data subject. As a result, the microservice may send an insert request to the master microservice 110 to insert (e.g., store) the aggravating risk factor value for the particular data subject in an instance of the data subject domain object generated for the particular data subject. In turn, the master microservice 110 may execute the insert module 150 in inserting the aggravated risk factor value into the instance.

The process 600 involves the insert module 150 receiving the insert request in Operation 610. According to various aspects, the insert request may include an instance identifier for an instance of a domain object and a value for a custom attribute. For example, the insert request may include an instance identifier for the instance of the data subject domain object generated for the particular data subject and the value for the aggravated risk factor for the data subject. In addition, the insert request may include the custom attribute (e.g., an identifier for the aggravated risk factor custom attribute) and/or an identifier for the domain object. If an identifier for the domain object is not provided, then the insert module 150 may reference (query) an instance table (Instance table 330) based on the instance identifier to retrieve the domain object identifier.

At Operation 615, the insert module 150 identifies the placeholder field used for storing values for the custom attribute. According to various aspects, the insert module 150 queries an attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320) using the domain object identifier and custom attribute (identifier thereof) in identifying a record in the attribute schema table associated with the domain object identifier and custom attribute. Once the insert module 150 has identified the record, the insert module 150 identifies the placeholder field that has been assigned to the custom attribute by referencing the mapping data stored in the record to identify the custom value table and placeholder field of the table being used to store values for the custom attribute. Therefore, in the example, the insert module 150 may identify the placeholder field, and corresponding custom value table, used for storing aggravated risk factor values for instances generated of the data subject domain object.

At this point, the insert module 150 determines whether a record already exists in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object in Operation 620. Accordingly, the insert module 150 can use the instance identifier provided in the insert request to query the custom value table to determine whether a record is returned for the query. If not, then the insert module 150 inserts a record in the custom value table for the instance and stores the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of the record in Operation 625. If a record is found, then the insert module 150 updates the record by storing the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of the record in Operation 630. As a result, the value for the custom attribute is persisted in the repository 180 for the instance of the domain object. Therefore, in the example, the aggravated risk factor value for the particular data subject persists in the repository 180 so that it can be retrieved for future use in generating a risk analysis for the data subject.

Delete Module

Turning now to FIG. 7, additional details are provided regarding a delete module 160 used for deleting a value for a custom attribute of an instance generated for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As previously noted, the delete module 160 according to various aspects is provided as part of a custom attribute management engine 115 that is accessible through a master microservice 110. As further noted, the master microservice 110 may be tasked with servicing requests from other microservices with respect to various domain objects and instances thereof, of which may involve deleting a value for a custom attribute for a particular instance of a domain object. In turn, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 and execute the delete module 160 to delete the value for the custom attribute. Therefore, the flow diagram shown in FIG. 7 may correspond to operations carried out, for example, by computing hardware as described herein, as the computing hardware executes the delete module 160.

As a specific example, a particular client may be collecting credit card data from customers and storing it. Here, the client may be using a DSAR service provided through the enterprise software application that provides the client with a workflow for processing the DSAR through the client's computing systems. In addition, the client may have added a custom attribute to a credit card domain object for storing a value identifying a bank that may be tied to credit card data for data subjects (individuals). The reason for adding this custom attribute may have been because the credit card data can often represent a debit card that has been issued by a bank.

The client may receive a DSAR from a particular data subject (individual) requesting for the client to delete specific credit card data for the data subject. Therefore, the microservice may send a delete request to the master microservice 110 to delete the bank value for the credit card data and the master microservice 110 may execute the delete module 160 in deleting the bank value.

Therefore, the process 700 involves the delete module 160 receiving the delete request in Operation 710. According to various aspects, the delete request may include an instance identifier for an instance of a domain object and a value for a custom attribute. For example, the delete request may include the instance identifier for the instance of the credit card domain object generated for the data subject. In addition, the delete request may include the custom attribute (e.g., identifier for the bank custom attribute) and/or an identifier for the domain object. If an identifier for the domain object is not provided, then the delete module 160 may reference (query) an instance table (Instance table 330) based on the instance identifier to retrieve the domain object identifier.

At Operation 715, the delete module 160 identifies the placeholder field used for storing the value that needs to be deleted for the custom attribute. According to various aspects, the delete module 160 queries an attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320) using the domain object identifier and custom attribute (identifier thereof) in identifying a record in the attribute schema table associated with the domain object identifier and custom attribute. Once the delete module 160 has identified the record, the delete module 160 identifies the placeholder field that has been assigned to the custom attribute by referencing the mapping data stored in the record to identify the custom value table and placeholder field of the table being used to store the value for the custom attribute that needs to be deleted. Therefore, in the example, the delete module 160 identifies the placeholder field, and corresponding custom value table, which is used in storing bank values for instances generated of the credit card domain object.

At this point, the delete module 160 deletes the value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field in Operation 720. To perform this operation, the delete module 160 may initially identify the record stored in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object. For example, the delete module 160 may use the instance identifier provided in the delete request to query the custom value table to identify the record stored in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object. Once the delete module 160 has identified the record, the delete module 160 then deletes the value stored in the placeholder field for the record. As a result, the value for the custom attribute is removed for the instance of the domain object. Therefore, in the example, the value stored for the bank custom attribute is removed for the instance of the credit card domain object generated for the particular data subject.

Fetch Module

Turning now to FIG. 8, additional details are provided regarding a fetch module 170 used for fetching (e.g., retrieving) a value for a custom attribute of an instance generated for a domain object in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. As previously noted, the fetch module 170 according to various aspects is provided as part of a custom attribute management engine 115 that is accessible through a master microservice 110. As further noted, the master microservice 110 may be tasked with servicing requests from other microservices with respect to various domain objects and instances thereof, of which may involve fetching a value for a custom attribute for a particular instance of a domain object. In turn, the master microservice 110 may utilize the custom attribute management engine 115 and execute the fetch module 170 to fetch the value for the custom attribute. Therefore, the flow diagram shown in FIG. 8 may correspond to operations carried out, for example, by computing hardware as described herein, as the computing hardware executes the fetch module 170.

As a specific example, a particular client may have received a DSAR from a data subject (individual) and is using a DSAR service provided through the enterprise software application that provides the client with a workflow for processing the DSAR through the client's computing systems. Accordingly, a data subject may be a defined domain object within a microservice that performs a task associated with generating the workflow. The client may have implemented a custom attribute for the data subject domain object that represents a customer number assigned to a data subject (customer) of the client. Therefore, the microservice may need the customer number value of the particular data subject associated with the DSAR received by the client in generating the workflow. As a result, the microservice may send a fetch request to the master microservice 110 to fetch the customer number value for the data subject and the master microservice 110 may execute the fetch module 170 in fetching the customer number value and returning it to the requesting microservice.

Therefore, the process 800 involves the fetch module 170 receiving the fetch request in Operation 810. According to various aspects, the fetch request may include an instance identifier for an instance of a domain object (e.g., for the instance of the data subject domain object) and a custom attribute (e.g., identifier for the customer number custom attribute). In addition, the fetch request may include an identifier for the domain object. If an identifier for the domain object is not provided, then the fetch module 170 may reference (query) an instance table (Instance table 330) based on the instance identifier to retrieve the domain object identifier.

At Operation 815, the fetch module 170 identifies the placeholder field used for storing the value that needs to be fetched for the custom attribute. According to various aspects, the fetch module 170 queries an attribute schema table (e.g., the Custom_Attribute_Schema table 320) using the domain object identifier and custom attribute (identifier thereof) in identifying a record in the attribute schema table associated with the domain object identifier and custom attribute. Once the fetch module 170 has identified the record, the fetch module 170 identifies the placeholder field that has been assigned to the custom attribute by referencing the mapping data stored in the record to identify the custom value table and placeholder field of the table being used to store the value for the custom attribute that needs to be fetched. Therefore, looking at the example, the fetch module 170 identifies the placeholder field, and corresponding custom value table, which is used in storing the customer number for a data subject.

At this point, the fetch module 170 fetches the value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field in Operation 820. To perform this operation, the fetch module 170 may initially identify the record stored in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object. For example, the fetch module 170 may use the instance identifier provided in the fetch request to query the custom value table to identify the record stored in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object. Once the fetch module 170 has identified the record, the fetch module 170 then fetches the value stored in the placeholder field for the record.

At Operation 825, the fetch module 170 returns the fetched value to the master microservice 110 (or some other microservice). Accordingly, the value can then be used within one or more services for the enterprise software application. For instance, returning to the example, the master microservice 110 may return the customer number value to the microservice that submitted the request so that the microservice can use the customer number in performing the required task to generate the workflow for the DSAR.

Example Technical Platforms

Aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways, including as computer program products that comprise articles of manufacture. Such computer program products may include one or more software components including, for example, software objects, methods, data structures, and/or the like. A software component may be coded in any of a variety of programming languages. An illustrative programming language may be a lower-level programming language such as an assembly language associated with a particular hardware architecture and/or operating system platform. A software component comprising assembly language instructions may require conversion into executable machine code by an assembler prior to execution by the hardware architecture and/or platform. Another example programming language may be a higher-level programming language that may be portable across multiple architectures. A software component comprising higher-level programming language instructions may require conversion to an intermediate representation by an interpreter or a compiler prior to execution.

Other examples of programming languages include, but are not limited to, a macro language, a shell or command language, a job control language, a script language, a database query, or search language, and/or a report writing language. In one or more example aspects, a software component comprising instructions in one of the foregoing examples of programming languages may be executed directly by an operating system or other software component without having to be first transformed into another form. A software component may be stored as a file or other data storage construct. Software components of a similar type or functionally related may be stored together such as, for example, in a particular directory, folder, or library. Software components may be static (e.g., pre-established, or fixed) or dynamic (e.g., created or modified at the time of execution).

A computer program product may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing applications, programs, program modules, scripts, source code, program code, object code, byte code, compiled code, interpreted code, machine code, executable instructions, and/or the like (also referred to herein as executable instructions, instructions for execution, computer program products, program code, and/or similar terms used herein interchangeably). Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media include all computer-readable media (including volatile and non-volatile media).

According to various aspects, a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium may include a floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, solid-state storage (SSS) (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD), solid state card (SSC), solid state module (SSM)), enterprise flash drive, magnetic tape, or any other non-transitory magnetic medium, and/or the like. A non-volatile computer-readable storage medium may also include a punch card, paper tape, optical mark sheet (or any other physical medium with patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia), compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disc-rewritable (CD-RW), digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD), any other non-transitory optical medium, and/or the like. Such a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium may also include read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory (e.g., Serial, NAND, NOR, and/or the like), multimedia memory cards (MMC), secure digital (SD) memory cards, SmartMedia cards, CompactFlash (CF) cards, Memory Sticks, and/or the like. Further, a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium may also include conductive-bridging random access memory (CBRAM), phase-change random access memory (PRAM), ferroelectric random-access memory (FeRAM), non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM), resistive random-access memory (RRAM), Silicon-Oxide-Nitride-Oxide-Silicon memory (SONOS), floating junction gate random access memory (FJG RAM), Millipede memory, racetrack memory, and/or the like.

According to various aspects, a volatile computer-readable storage medium may include random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), fast page mode dynamic random access memory (FPM DRAM), extended data-out dynamic random access memory (EDO DRAM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM), double data rate type two synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR2 SDRAM), double data rate type three synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR3 SDRAM), Rambus dynamic random access memory (RDRAM), Twin Transistor RAM (TTRAM), Thyristor RAM (T-RAM), Zero-capacitor (Z-RAM), Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM), dual in-line memory module (DIMM), single in-line memory module (SIMM), video random access memory (VRAM), cache memory (including various levels), flash memory, register memory, and/or the like. It will be appreciated that where various aspects are described to use a computer-readable storage medium, other types of computer-readable storage media may be substituted for or used in addition to the computer-readable storage media described above.

Various aspects of the present disclosure may also be implemented as methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like. As such, various aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a data structure, apparatus, system, computing device, computing entity, and/or the like executing instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium to perform certain steps or operations. Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure also may take the form of entirely hardware, entirely computer program product, and/or a combination of computer program product and hardware performing certain steps or operations.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described below with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations. Thus, each block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations may be implemented in the form of a computer program product, an entirely hardware aspect, a combination of hardware and computer program products, and/or apparatuses, systems, computing devices, computing entities, and/or the like carrying out instructions, operations, steps, and similar words used interchangeably (e.g., the executable instructions, instructions for execution, program code, and/or the like) on a computer-readable storage medium for execution. For example, retrieval, loading, and execution of code may be performed sequentially such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded, and executed at a time. In some examples of aspects, retrieval, loading, and/or execution may be performed in parallel such that multiple instructions are retrieved, loaded, and/or executed together. Thus, such aspects can produce specially configured machines performing the steps or operations specified in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations. Accordingly, the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations support various combinations of aspects for performing the specified instructions, operations, or steps.

Example System Architecture

FIG. 9 depicts a system architecture 900 that can be used to execute implementations of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The architecture 900 includes one or more client computing systems 104, a server system 910, and one or more networks 105. The server system 910 includes one or more server devices 915. Accordingly, in various embodiments, personnel 103 can use a client computing system 104 to interact with an enterprise software application that is hosted by the server system 910. For example, the client computing system 104 can include any appropriate type of computing device such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a network appliance, a smart phone, and/or the like. Here, the client computing system 104 can communicate with one or more of the server devices 915 over the network(s) 105. For example, the network(s) 105 can include one or more of a large computer network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a cellular network, a telephone network (e.g., PSTN) or an appropriate combination thereof.

Accordingly, in various embodiments, each server device 915 may include at least one server and at least one data store. Here, the server devices 915 may represent various forms of servers including, but not limited to a web server, an application server, a proxy server, a network server, and/or a server pool. In general, the server system 910 accepts requests for application services and provides such services to any number of client devices (e.g., the client computing system 104) over the network(s) 105.

For instance, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the server system 910 can provide a cloud infrastructure to host one more microservice-based applications (e.g., microservices provided as one or more computer-executable programs executed by one or more computing devices). In some examples, computing resources of the server system 910 can be provisioned based on modelling of network traffic associated with use of the one or more microservices. Accordingly, the microservices may be designed to communicate using communication methods and protocols, such as lightweight RESTful APIs (i.e., application programming interfaces (API) implemented using representational state transfer (REST) architectures). For example, the API may be implemented as a REST API, which may be accessed using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), in a manner similar to a standard web page. However, depending on the embodiment, any suitable communication protocol may be used.

Example Computing Hardware

FIG. 10 illustrates a diagrammatic representation of a computing hardware device 1000 that may be used in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure. For example, the hardware device 1000 may be computing hardware such as a server that is part of a server device 915 as described in FIG. 9. According to particular aspects, the hardware device 1000 may be connected (e.g., networked) to one or more other computing entities, storage devices, and/or the like via one or more networks such as, for example, a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, and/or the Internet. As noted above, the hardware device 1000 may operate in the capacity of a server and/or a client device in a client-server network environment, or as a peer computing device in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. According to various aspects, the hardware device 1000 may be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile device (smartphone), a web appliance, a server, a network router, a switch or bridge, or any other device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that device. Further, while only a single hardware device 1000 is illustrated, the term “hardware device,” “computing hardware,” and/or the like shall also be taken to include any collection of computing entities that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

A hardware device 1000 includes a processor 1002, a main memory 1004 (e.g., read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) such as synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Rambus DRAM (RDRAM), and/or the like), a static memory 1006 (e.g., flash memory, static random-access memory (SRAM), and/or the like), and a data storage device 1018, that communicate with each other via a bus 1032.

The processor 1002 may represent one or more general-purpose processing devices such as a microprocessor, a central processing unit, and/or the like. According to some aspects, the processor 1002 may be a complex instruction set computing (CISC) microprocessor, reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing other instruction sets, processors implementing a combination of instruction sets, and/or the like. According to some aspects, the processor 1002 may be one or more special-purpose processing devices such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), network processor, and/or the like. The processor 1002 can execute processing logic 1026 for performing various operations and/or steps described herein.

The hardware device 1000 may further include a network interface device 1008, as well as a video display unit 1010 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT), and/or the like), an alphanumeric input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 1014 (e.g., a mouse, a trackpad), and/or a signal generation device 1016 (e.g., a speaker). The hardware device 1000 may further include a data storage device 1018. The data storage device 1018 may include a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 1030 (also known as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable medium) on which is stored one or more modules 1022 (e.g., sets of software instructions) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. For instance, according to particular aspects, the modules 1022 include a create module 130, remove module 140, insert module 150, delete module 160, and/or fetch module 170 that are part of a custom attribute management engine 115 as described herein. The one or more modules 1022 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within main memory 1004 and/or within the processor 1002 during execution thereof by the hardware device 1000—main memory 1004 and processor 1002 also constituting computer-accessible storage media. The one or more modules 1022 may further be transmitted or received over a network 105 via the network interface device 1008.

While the computer-readable storage medium 1030 is shown to be a single medium, the terms “computer-readable storage medium” and “machine-accessible storage medium” should be understood to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable storage medium” should also be understood to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, and/or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the hardware device 1000 and that causes the hardware device 1000 to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure. The term “computer-readable storage medium” should accordingly be understood to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and/or the like.

System Operation

The logical operations described herein may be implemented (1) as a sequence of computer implemented acts or one or more program modules running on a computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine logic circuits or circuit modules within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of choice dependent on the performance and other requirements of the computing system. Accordingly, the logical operations described herein are referred to variously as states, operations, steps, structural devices, acts, or modules. These states, operations, steps, structural devices, acts, and modules may be implemented in software, in firmware, in special purpose digital logic, and any combination thereof. Greater or fewer operations may be performed than shown in the figures and described herein. These operations also may be performed in a different order than those described herein.

CONCLUSION

While this specification contains many specific aspect details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular aspects of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate aspects also may be implemented in combination in a single aspect. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single aspect also may be implemented in multiple aspects separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination may in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

Similarly, while operations are described in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order described or in sequential order, or that all described operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various components in the various aspects described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, and the described program components (e.g., modules) and systems may be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Many modifications and other aspects of the disclosure will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the specific aspects disclosed and that modifications and other aspects are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purposes of limitation. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving a custom attribute request for a domain object defined in a microservice, wherein the custom attribute request comprises a domain object identifier for the domain object, a custom attribute to add to the domain object, and a value type for the custom attribute; identifying, by computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the value type, a custom value table for the domain object, wherein the custom value table: (1) is defined in a repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes having the value type in the plurality of placeholder fields for instances of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field not being mapped in a plurality of records found in an attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute comprising mapping data, wherein the mapping data maps the custom attribute to the placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of records comprises records stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the method further comprises identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier, the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table for the domain object.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object, a second custom attribute to add to the domain object, and the value type for the second custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the value type, the custom value table for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the second placeholder field not being mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object, a second custom attribute to add to the domain object, and a second value type for the second custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the domain object identifier and the second value type, a second custom value table for the domain object, wherein the second custom value table: (1) is defined in the repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a second plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes having the second value type in the second plurality of placeholder fields for the instances of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware, a placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields is not mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing, by the computing hardware, a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the placeholder field of the second plurality of placeholder fields for the second custom value table.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and a value for the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and storing, by the computing hardware based on the instance identifier, the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning, by the computing hardware, the value for the custom attribute to the microservice.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware and based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, by the computing hardware based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting, by the computing hardware, a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for each instance of the domain object; and deleting, by the computing hardware, the record in the attribute schema table to unassign the placeholder field.
 9. A system comprising: a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions; and a processing device communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein, the processing device is configured to execute the instructions and thereby perform operations comprising: receiving a custom attribute request for a domain object defined in a microservice, wherein the custom attribute request comprises a domain object identifier for the domain object and a custom attribute to add to the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, a custom value table for the domain object, wherein the custom value table: (1) is defined in a repository for the microservice, (2) comprises a plurality of placeholder fields, and (3) is configured to store values for custom attributes in the plurality of placeholder fields for instances of the domain object; identifying a placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the placeholder field not being mapped in a plurality of records found in an attribute schema table; and storing a record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute comprising mapping data, wherein the mapping data maps the custom attribute to the placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a second custom attribute request for the domain object, wherein the second custom attribute request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and a second custom attribute to add to the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the custom value table for the domain object; identifying a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields that is available based on the second placeholder field not being mapped in the plurality of records found in the attribute schema table; and storing a second record in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute comprising second mapping data, wherein the second mapping data maps the second custom attribute to the second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields for the custom value table.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and a value for the custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and storing, based on the instance identifier, the value for the custom attribute in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object comprises referencing an instance table mapping the instance identifier to the domain object identifier.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning the value for the custom attribute to the microservice.
 14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the custom attribute, the record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the custom attribute; identifying, based on the mapping data stored in the record, the placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting a value for the custom attribute stored in the placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for each instance of the domain object; and deleting the record in the attribute schema table to unassign the placeholder field.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code that is stored thereon, the program code executable by one or more processing devices for performing operations comprising: receiving an insert request, wherein the insert request comprises an instance identifier for an instance of a domain object, a first value for a first custom attribute, and a second value for a second custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, a domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, a first record stored in an attribute schema table, wherein the attribute schema table is defined in a repository for a microservice; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the second custom attribute, a second record in the attribute schema table; identifying, based on first mapping data stored in the first record, a first placeholder field of a plurality of placeholder fields found in a custom value table, wherein the first placeholder field is assigned to the first custom attribute and the custom value table is defined for the domain object in the repository; identifying, based on second mapping data stored in the second record, a second placeholder field of the plurality of placeholder fields, wherein the second placeholder field is assigned to the second custom attribute; and storing, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute in the first placeholder field and the second value for the second custom attribute in the second placeholder field of an instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object comprises referencing an instance table mapping the instance identifier to the domain object identifier.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a fetch request, wherein the fetch request comprises the instance identifier for the instance of the domain object; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier, the second record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the second custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; identifying, based on the second mapping data stored in the second record, the second placeholder field of the custom value table; retrieving, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field and the second value for the second custom attribute stored in the second placeholder field from the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and returning the first value and the second value to the microservice.
 19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a delete request, wherein the delete request comprises the instance identifier for the instance of the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the instance identifier for the instance, the domain object identifier for the domain object; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; and deleting, based on the instance identifier, the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field of the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a remove request, wherein the remove request comprises the domain object identifier for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the domain object identifier and the first custom attribute, the first record stored in the attribute schema table for the domain object and the first custom attribute; identifying, based on the first mapping data stored in the first record, the first placeholder field of the custom value table; deleting the first value for the first custom attribute stored in the first placeholder field of the instance record found in the custom value table for the instance of the domain object; and deleting the first record in the attribute schema table to unassign the first placeholder field. 